The Top 5 Traveller Reads in January
Gonzo - The life of Hunter S. Thompson by Jann Wenner & Corey Seymour
Gonzo journalism is a particularly wonderful writing style - which you don't see enough of in today's ego-tastic circle of travel blogging. Behind Gonzo you have Hunter S. Thompson who took his experiences, mixed them with paraffin, spat them into a flame and inaugurated an age of articles which mixed jaded cynicism with that certain irresistible, slap in the face, unabbreviated truth. Not only did his fearless approach to writing make the magic that was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, it also made this autobiography into a seamless read. In true Thompson style it's an unabashed account of how things really came about, told by his lovers, friends and family after his suicide. To even attempt to relay these experiences would be sacrilegious to Thompson so it's best to just buy the book, take a leaf out of it, unplug all office equipment, fake a day of incommunicado and plough through it.
Gonzo - The life of Hunter S. Thompson by Jann Wenner & Corey Seymour is published by the Sphere (hardback; £18.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
As a Dodo by George Poles and Simon Littlefield
Imagine if you will a collection of obituaries which all celebrate the passing of particularly irritating inconveniences. Add to that a satirical, historiography of said hindrances and you have As a Dodo in a nutshell. This collection is based on the award winning blog which drew acclaim from some top titles – and rightly so. Anyone interested in the race for Mayor of London will be particularly tickled by the memorial of Boris Johnson's Mouth, 1964-2006. This is just one particularly entertaining assassination of a high brow Eton ego and overall, it was a pleasure to spend time in the world of Poles and Littlefield. This title more than matches their TV achievements on shows such as Smack the Pony and Have I Got News for You. It also makes for a great group read when you're stuck on a bus in a sea of cemented traffic.
As a Dodo by George Poles and Simon Littlefield is published by Summersdale (hardback; £9.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
Rough Guide Directions New York by Martin Dunford and Ken Derry
When I went to New York I paid a tour guide a stupid amount of money to cram the entire city into one day. I learnt next to nothing, went up the Empire State building when the visibility was zero and ate in restaurants that might as well have been called: “We slap a 35% surcharge on all meals to really milk the naïve tourists who eat here for convenience.” I learnt more about the city by reading this book than be being there and I now feel the need to go back to the overly large apple, track down the extortionate tour guide and slap him in his Botox stretched face before proceeding to experience the real New York. Unlike some of the Rough Guides this one is in full colour all the way through and the photos work in perfect tandem with the ever well written text to inspire, attract and enthral all readers with that New Year travel itch.
Rough Guide Directions New York by Martin Dunford and Ken Derry is published by Rough Guides (paperback: £6.99). It is also available through roughguides.com and all good booksellers.
Wallpaper City Guide – London
The Wallpaper guides have a reputation for being a little bit pretentious and when you look at the typical review subjects you might appreciate why. That aside, they are beautifully constructed, the iconic architecture features are free to look at and this pocket sized publication is a great aid in understanding why London holds the title of most Cosmopolitan City in the World. There's room at the back to sketch and write memos, the tip about the sunset viewed from Primrose Hill is well deserved and if you fancy a little birthday treat from the parental expense account, then this should be your first luxurious pit stop for inspiration. The writing is sharp, the photography includes some impressive angles and if you have a coffee table then this book is ostentatiously perfect.
Wallpaper City Guide – London is published by Phaidon Press (paperback; £4.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
Pecliar Proverbs by Stephen Arnott
My final top five pick this month is a collection of the strangest sayings from around the world. This is a compact hardback that's a refreshing, synapse disengaging read at the end of the day. The collection of worldly wisdom stretches from widows who are frisky as rider throwing horses - to the comparison of a motherless child to an onion-less curry. Arnott was also one of the forces behind the ingenious political satire – Spitting Image which makes him more thank OK by me. This is most certainly something you can dip in and out of when you feel the need to be inspired after an especially arse kicking day.
Pecliar Proverbs by Stephen Arnott is published by Summersdale (hardback; £9.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
